She's Dating The Teacher

Chapter 5: To The Rescue

Ang pagkakakilala ni Rachel kay Kelsey, palabiro ito at masayahin.

Pero alam din niya na sa likod ng mga tawa at pang-aasar nito, meron itong dinadala.

Kaya naman nang hindi ito agad sumagot, akala niya tuloy na-disconnect ang tawag.

"I made a promise." Narinig niya ito sa kabilang linya.

"What promise?"

"That I would focus on my studies." Halos hindi marinig ang boses nito dahil sa hina.

"That means not playing volleyball. Am I right?"

"Yes."

Naalala ni Rachel ang usapan nila kanina sa hapunan.

Pero this was not the right time to bring it up.

Ramdam niya na hindi sermon ang kailangan ng kasintahan kundi pang-unawa.

"Anong nangyari?" Mahinahong tanong niya.

"Dad gave me a month. If my studies suffer, then I'm done for." Narinig niya ang pagbuntong-hininga nito.

"Ano ba ang course mo?"

"Political Science."

"What?" Napasigaw siya sa narinig.

"What do you mean?" Nagulat si Kelsey sa reaction niya.

"Yan ba ang gusto mo?"

"No."

"Eh bakit yan ang kinuha mo?"

"I don't exactly live with the most democratic person in the world."

"I see."

Sasabihin niya sana kay Kelsey na dapat kinausap niya ng maayos ang mga magulang at pinaglaban kung ano talaga ang gusto niya pero hindi niya pa ito lubusang kilala.

Sa malungkot na tono ng boses nito ay halata niya na it was too late for that.

"I don't know what to do. I don't care about being a lawyer. Isa pa, you know I hate memorizing stuff."

"I know." Natawa siya.

"Are you laughing at me?"

"Hindi. Meron lang akong naalala."

"Ano iyon?"

"That time when I asked you to recite Sonnet 43 from Sonnets From The Portuguese. Akala ko hihimatayin ka dahil sa nerbiyos. You turned white as paper." Tumawa si Rachel.

"That's right. Make fun of my misery." Kahit wala sa harap niya si Kelsey, nai-imagine niya na nakasimangot ito.

"I'm not making fun of you. You were so adorable that day. Kung pwede lang kitang yakapin, ginawa ko na. Kaso we were in class. Baka masisante ako kapag ginawa ko iyon."

"Really?" Sumaya ulit ang tono ni Kelsey. "You wanted to hug me?"

"Oo naman."

"That makes me happy."

They were both silent for a while until Rachel spoke again.

"I could help you."

"How?"

"Study. I'm a teacher anyway."

"You'll do that for me?"

"Oo naman. Kanina lang, you talk of us taking care of each other. This will be my way of helping you. Only if you want to. Baka mas gusto mong magreview with your classmates. I'll understand."

"Of course I would rather spend time with you."

"You're not only spending time with me. We will be studying." Inemphasized niya ang salitang studying.

"That sucks!"

"Bahala ka. I'm doing this so you can keep playing."

"I'm more excited because we get to be together longer."

"Whatever helps. Pero ang priority natin ay ang pag-aaral mo. Ngayon pa lang sabihin mo na sa akin kung hindi mo talaga kaya ang course mo. Huwag tayong mag-aksaya ng panahon."

Pareho silang natahimik.

"Susubukan ko."

"Sigurado ka na iyan ang gusto mong gawin?"

"I don't really have a choice. Ito ang course na gusto ni Daddy na kunin ko. Kahit alam niya na iba ang gusto kong pag-aralan, ayaw niya pumayag."

Naramdaman ni Rachel na conflicted ang feelings ni Kelsey.

"Subukan muna natin ito. Baka naman motivation lang ang kailangan mo."

"I don't know. Basta. Bahala na."

Si Rachel naman ang napabuntong-hininga.

"What do you need from me?"

"I'm going to need your schedule."